Audio Test Kitchen 2.0 launches online

The Audio Test Kitchen has announced the opening of ATK2.0, which will feature 25 new sources, instant audio switching and real-world example recordings that enable users to virtually audition a vast collection of different microphone manufacturer’s models. The upgrade to the platform is in celebration of 1.4 million microphone auditions performed through the service, undertaken by more than 80,000 users, since it launched.

“The world needs to do their best work from home, under these pandemic conditions and beyond,” commented founder Alex Oana. “To do our best work, audio creators need to find the best tools, quickly and confidently. Audio Test Kitchen makes it possible to evaluate and validate tools for audio creation and music making online, starting with large diaphragm condenser microphones.”

The free service comprises contributions from 65 participating manufacturers, 15 engineers and famous Los Angeles recording studios. Grammy-winning engineer Tony Maserati, renowned for applying his discriminating taste in analogue and digital gear, puts it this way: “With Audio Test Kitchen, people will be able to decide for themselves because [those decisions] will be based in sound and not necessarily in brand name. It changes the paradigm. It’s a dramatic shift in how people will make decisions about their purchases.”

“The data is clear: there’s a ton of pent up demand for actionable, unbiased, experienced-based product information in our market,” furthered Oana. “One out of three people who see a video about Audio Test Kitchen become ATK users. And they explore the website, discovering and auditioning microphones for over 10 minutes on average, per session. Our users are very vocal on social media, expressing their amazement at the very existence of such a resource.”

Given the current situation, where there’s a lack of an ability to physically test different models combined with that fact that many artists are stuck recording and broadcasting the music, the ATK service is invaluable. Phil Wagner, senior vice president of Solid State Logic and an ATK advisor, summed up the rising sentiment in the pro audio community. “In light of our current global reality, Audio Test Kitchen’s unprecedented resource could not have come at a better time.”